Dozens of straw-filled figures are lining streets in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, for the annual Mary Valley Scarecrow Festival.
Locals and visitors are being encouraged to go for a drive from Imbil to Kenilworth and surrounds, to check out the works-of-art on display outside homes and businesses.
Organiser Heinke Butt, from Mary Valley Artslink, estimates 80 scarecrows have popped up in the valley, one of the best showings in years.
They’re not all your typical scarecrows, some of the highlights include newly-wed penguins, a smoking crown, and a “Stair Crow” made of old stairs.
There’s a map on the festival’s website so you can plan your route.
A panel of judges has already chosen their favourites, announcing the overall winners across four categories.
In the Child 5-15 years section, “Humpty Dumpty Smarty Pants” by the Imbil Early Learning Centre took out the crown.
“Emma Moor and Ken Danga” from Rose Berry at Amamoor Homestead on Kandanga Amamoor Rd has been named best traditional scarecrow.
“Nitro Nigel” from the Fitzgerald family on Yabba Creek Rd near Borumba Dam has won most artistic scarecrow.
The fourth and newest Pro Crow category presented a quandary for the judges, who could not split the vote between Marg, by Agnew Terve on Ray Meyers Rd near Imbil, and the Stair Crow on ImbilKandanga Rd.
The two tied for first place in the section, which called for a larger-than-life crow made from scrap metal or other recycled materials, oversized and original, and came with prize money of $500.
The festival began in Maleny and has been held during spring almost every year since the late ‘90s.
It runs until October 3.
